The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East is an exciting new feature on the busy regional motor racing calendar.

Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa is the new champion in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East after a dramatic last weekend of racing in the series at Dubai Autodrome.

Saudi Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisal won the final round of championship for his second successive victory of the day, but fourth place was enough to allow Sheikh Salman to snatch the title from Saudi Arabia’s defending champion.

Teenager Fahad Algosaibi finished in second place to secure third position in the series while fellow-Saudi Bandar Alesayi grabbed the third podium spot and finished fourth overall.

There was more frustration for Emirati Khaled Al Qubaisi who went out of the race along with his Abu Dhabi team-mate Musaed Al Murar when they collided on the first lap

Saudi Arabia’s Prince Abdulaziz Al Faisalkept his fading title hopes alive in thePorsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East today by winning the penultimate round of the 12-round series at Dubai Autodrome.

The defending champion moved to within ten points of Bahrain’s championship leader, Sheikh Salman bin Rashid Al Khalifa, who finished third and needs only to avoid a disaster in the final round later in the afternoon to clinch the Porsche crown.

Teenager Fahad Algosaibi, the youngest winner in Porsche one-make racing history, had started in pole position for the first time, but he immediately lost his lead as Prince Abdulaziz made a great surge from the grid to move ahead of him.

With Algosaibi unable to put him under any pressure, the Saudi star cruised to victory by 2.218 seconds while Sheikh Salman also had a comfortable drive to take the third podium place.

Saudi’s Bandar Alesayi, who had scored his first victory of the Porsche GT3 Cup series less than 24 hours earlier, had to be content with fourth place on this occasion.

Leading rookie Musaed Al Murar snatched fifth position from Khaled Al Qubaisi when his Abu Dhabi team-mate made a mistake mid way through the 14 lap race.

Making his debut in the championship, Saudi Radical champion Saeed Al Mouri took seventh place and is now looking to contest the GT3 Cup series in full next season

Final Round 12 Championship results

1. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Al Faisal Racing Team 23:52.068

2. Fahad Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 23:52.495

3. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 24:02.447

4. Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (BAH) 24:05.063

5. Saeed Al Mouri Al Faisal Racing Team 24:27.706

6. Mark Thomas (CAN) 24:33.263

7. Johannes Waimer (GER) 24:34.721

8. Ibrahim Salloum (UAE) Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing 24:35.699

9. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 24:50.720

10. Alain Muraour (F) 25:16.898

Final championship positions

1. Salman Bin Rashid Al Khalifa (BAH) 210pts

2. Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA) Al Faisal Racing Team 206pts

3. Fahad Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 183pts

4. Bandar Alesayi (KSA) 176pts

5. Khaled Al Qubaisi (UAE) tolimit Arabia 156pts

6. Musaed Al Murar (UAE) tolimit arabia 101pts

7. Ibrahim Salloum (UAE) Abu Dhabi Falcon Racing 92pts

8. Johannes Waimer (GER) 85pts

9. Fawaz Algosaibi (KSA) ClassicArabia Racing 67pts

10. Alain Muraour (F) 61pts

Based on the highly successful Porsche formula for one-make series racing, it gives the Arab world’s most promising circuit racing drivers an ideal opportunity to further their international experience.

Launched in December 2009, the championship is currently enjoying its second season in which the latest version of the Porsche GT3 Cup car has made its first competitive appearance worldwide.